Method and system to effectuate point of use control and accountability of monitored articles

ABSTRACT

The method and system for a material cabinet for use in cooperation with a plurality of articles stored in the material cabinet is disclosed. Each of the plurality of articles having a radio frequency identification tag attached thereto is connected through at least an antenna or a plurality of antennas installed in the material cabinet to a radio frequency identification reader, which is interpreted through a software in a computer system. This method and system has capability to effectuate point of use control of the stored articles through a database in the computer system. This method and system also implements a security mechanism through a lock system to secure the store articles from unauthorized user/stock clerks.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application does not claim priority from any prior application.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

This application is not federally sponsored research/development.

REFERENCES TO SEQUENCE LISTING

This application is not referenced to any microfiche appendix.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to inventory tracking of material used and asecurity mechanism for granting access to authorized users.

BACKGROUND

In many industrial settings, an inventory system is set up for managingand tracking materials being used and stored. This is often used as amethod to reduce unnecessary purchase and disposal of objects by makingexisting material stocks available. Historically, an inventory system ismanaged by clerks and therefore human errors occur frequently. Recentlyautomatic controlled inventory systems have been implemented to replacethe traditional human controlled system. For example, a bar code systemcan be implemented to track assets, consumables, non-consumables,documents, manufacturing goods, chemicals, and warehouse inventories.However, a bar code system still requires human intervention forscanning bar coded objects when the object is checked-in or checked-out.

As a result, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems have emergedas an affordable solution for object identification. They are a cheapand error proof alternative for traditional object identificationtechniques such as bar codes and visual recognition. Such wirelesssystems allow for non-contact reading and are effective in manufacturingand other hostile environments where bar code labels could not properlyemployed. RFID has been used in a wide range of applications such asasset tracking in supply chains, livestock identification, automatedvehicle identification systems, security systems etc., because of itsability to track moving objects.

The present invention discloses a system and method of combining RFIDtechnology and access control mechanism to effectively manage moveablematerials within a contained cabinet or the like. This invention allowstracking of materials being checked in or checked out and alertspersonnel when materials are depleted. This invention also ensuresmaterial is used only by authorized users. A computer-controlledmechanism is also implemented with the system that allows automatictracking of the moveable objects and makes these objects available whenneeded to ensure their efficient use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is affixed to each piece ofa plurality of articles to allow monitoring the check-in and check-outprocess of any piece of the plurality of articles. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide point of use tracking and recordingsystem for articles stored in an access controlled material cabinet.

It is another object of this invention to provide security of the storedplurality of articles by granting access to only authorized user/stockclerks by integrating the RFID technology, access control mechanismthrough a computer system.

Further objects of this invention will be brought out in the followingpart of the specifications, wherein detailed description is for thepurpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitationsthereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a material cabinet system having amagnetic reader and articles stored therein the cabinet having a radiofrequency identification tag attached to it according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the materialcabinet system according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A through 3C together depict a view of a user/stock clerkchecking out an article from the material cabinet system according tothe present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B together depict a view of a user/stock clerk checking inan article to the material cabinet system according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B together depict a flow chart of the method of anembodiment for using the material cabinet of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart of the method for restocking articles to thematerial cabinet according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a material cabinet system having amagnetic reader lock with a plurality of articles 18 having a radiofrequency identification tag attached thereto the articles 18. Referringnow to FIG. 1, the material cabinet system 10 includes a conventionalmaterial cabinet 14 with a material cabinet door 16 to conceal andsecure the material cabinet. A proximity reader 12 is installed tocontrol the access to the material cabinet 14. At least one antenna orone antenna system with a plurality of antennas, (not shown in FIG. 1),can be installed inside or outside the material cabinet 14. The antennasmay be of any of the common types well known in the art. Depending uponthe size of the material cabinet 14, one or more antennas are deployedin such a way as to provide complete and adequate communicationtransmission coverage to the material cabinet 14. A plurality ofarticles 18 can be stored inside the material cabinet 14 each having anRFID tag 19 affixed on each article 18.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic diagram 20 of an embodiment of the materialcabinet system according to the present invention. According to FIG. 2,the material cabinet system is operationally and communicably connectedto a computer system 30. Specifically, a plurality of articles 18carrying RFID tags 19 are in communication with an RFID reader 22, whichis in communication with the computer system 30. The proximity reader 12is operationally and communicably connected with the computer system 30.

The computer system 30 maintains inventory communication with theplurality of articles 18 by employing the RFID tags 19 on each of thearticles 18 wherein each article 18 is in communication with theantennas installed inside or outside of the material cabinet 14. Theantennas operate to send and receive signals that interact with the RFIDtags 19 when an article 18 affixing the RFID tag 19 is removed from orput into the material cabinet 14. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention, a passive RFID system is used.

The computer system 30 of the present invention includes an applicationserver, a web service layer, and a database containing an articletracking system (each not individually shown in FIG. 2.) In oneembodiment of the present invention, the application server can be aWindows 2000 server wherein a proximity software and a communicationssoftware control and maintain inventory and access functionality to thematerial cabinet 14. The application server is also communicablyconnected to two Network Interface Cards (NIC), one for communicatingwith the material cabinet 14 and another for communicating with the webserver layer. The web server layers provides a scalability andreusability functionality to the database for inventory tracking of thearticles 19 in the material cabinet 14. The web server layer iscommunicably connected to the database containing the article trackingsystem. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, thecomputer system includes at least one computer hard drive, at least onemonitor, and at least one printer.

In FIG. 2, each passive RFID tag 19 comprises unique data. As eacharticle 18 having such an RFID tag 19 is removed from or put into thematerial cabinet 14, the antenna powers the passive RFID tag 19 and theunique data contained in the passive RFID tag 19 is emitted in a signalthat is received by the antenna and transferred to the RFID reader 22connected to the computer system 30. The transfer may be accomplishedthrough a wired or wireless connection. The computer system 30 thencompares the number of removed or inserted articles to an inventorydatabase stored in the computer system 30 that maps unique data to eachpiece of the articles 18. The inventory database contains pertinentinformation for each article 18 having a passive RFID tag 19 assigned toit. Such information may include, but is not limited to, generic name,scientific name, date of acquisition, date of expiration, the vendorthat the piece of article was purchased from, barcode number. However,one skilled in the art will understand that any type of information canbe contained in the inventory database 35.

The computer system 30 also employs a user/stock clerk identificationprocess, which is implemented by connecting the computer system 30 tothe proximity reader 12 installed on the material cabinet 14. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that a number of differentidentification processes may be implemented to control the access to thematerial cabinet 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the proximityreader 12 is installed on the material cabinet 14 such that anauthorized user/stock clerk requiring access to the material cabinet 14must swipe the proximity badge 42 (shown in FIG. 3) across the proximityreader 12 to gain access. A software is installed in the computer system30 and is employed to map user/stock clerk identification previouslystored in the computer system 30.

As mentioned above, the computer system 30 employs an articlescalability and reusability function wherein when an article 18 isremoved, the computer system 30 will determine whether the article 18 isreturnable to the material cabinet 14 or not.

In another embodiment, a built-in speaker and/or a flashing device (notshown in FIG. 2) are installed on the material cabinet 14. The speakerand the flashing device are connected to the computer system 30 and asoftware component is employed to allow the speaker to sound differentphrases or sentences under certain circumstances. For example, when auser/stock clerk swipes an invalid proximity badge across the proximityreader, the computer system will transmit a signal to cause the speakersound, “unauthorized user/stock clerk” and/or the flashing device toflash.

FIGS. 3A-3C together depict a view of a user/stock clerk checking out anarticle from the material cabinet according to the present invention.Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3C, the process of article 18 check-out 40 isshown. In FIG. 3A, a user/stock clerk swipes the proximity badge 42across the proximity reader 12, the computer system 30 receives thesignal and determines whether access is granted or not. When access isgranted, as shown in FIG. 3B, the material cabinet door 16 is opened andthe speaker sounds predetermined phrases to the user/stock clerk. Theuser/stock clerk then removes one or more articles 18, shown in FIG. 3C,and simultaneously the antenna transmits unique data relating to theRFID tag 19 which is disposed on the article 18 being removed from thematerial cabinet 14. The RFID reader 22 (shown in FIG. 2) theninterprets the unique data and the computer system 30 maps the uniquedata to the inventory database 35 (shown in FIG. 2) and records thetransaction.

FIGS. 4A and 4B together show a process view of a user/stock clerkchecking in an article 18 to the material cabinet 14. Referring now toFIGS. 4A and 4B, the process of article check-in 50 is shown. In FIG.4A, a user/stock clerk swipes the proximity badge 42 across theproximity reader 12, the computer system 30 receives a signal anddetermines whether access is granted or not. When access is granted, asshown in FIG. 4B, the material cabinet door 16 is opened and the speakersounds predetermined phrases to the user/stock clerk. The user/stockclerk then places one or more articles 18 into the material cabinet 14,the antenna then transmits unique data relating to the RFID tag 19,which is disposed on the article being inserted into the materialcabinet 14. The RFID reader 22 (shown in FIG. 2) then interprets theunique data and the computer system 30 maps the unique date to theinventory database 35 (shown in FIG. 2) and records the transaction.

FIGS. 5A and 5B together depict a flow chart of the method of anembodiment for using the material cabinet of the present invention.Referring specifically to FIG. 5A, in step 120 the proximity badge 42(shown in FIGS. 3A-3C and FIGS. 4A-4B) is swiped across or through theproximity reader 12 by a user/stock clerk. Step 130 then determineswhether the user/stock clerk has an RFID setup in the computer system30. If step 130 identifies that, the user/stock clerk has an RFID setupin the inventory system, then step 140 checks to see if the user/stockclerk setup as (BIN) in the inventory database 35 (shown in FIG. 2). Asused herein, the term “BIN” is used to refer to a location within thecabinet, such as but not limited to a shelf, or number of shelves withinthe cabinet. If step 140 determines that the user/stock clerk is setupas BIN in the inventory database, then step 150 determines if theproximity badge 42 has that shop code on the proximity badge 42. If step150 determines that the shop code is on the proximity badge 42, thenstep 200 of article check-out or check-in is initiated. If a denial inany one of the steps 130, 140 and 150 occurs, then step 160 is initiatedto add an invalid access system log to the inventory database, transmitsthe invalid access to the computer system, step 170, and then directsthe user/stock clerk to centralized stock room for resolution throughthe speaker system, step 180.

In step 200, the various modules of the material cabinet system activatethe various apparatus and hardware connecting to the computer system 30,including the RFID reader 22, the speaker, and cooperation of theproximity badge 42 and RFID reader 22. Following step 200, step 210checks to see if the process is a container check-in. If step 210determines that the process is an empty container check-in, then step310 is initiated to report check-in of an empty container to the refuseshelf to the computer system 30. If step 210 determines that the processis not an empty container check-in, then step 320 reports that areturned container check-in has occurred to the computer system 30 andthen goes to the determination step 330 (see FIG. 5B) to check if thecontainer is being checked-in by the same user/stock clerk who checkedit out (shown in FIG. 5B). If step 330 determines that the containerchecked in is not by the same user/stock clerk who checked it out, thenstep 340 accepts the container and notifies the stock clerk of the eventthrough the computer system 30. If step 330 determines that, thecontainer check-in is by the same user/stock clerk who checked it out,then step 350 checks to see if the container is a “one time use” articlecheck-in. If step 350 determines that the container is one time usearticle check-in, then step 360 notifies the user/stock clerk to placethe article in designated single use area in the material cabinet 14through the computer system 30. If step 350 determines that, thecontainer is not a one time use article check-in, then step 370 furtherchecks to see if it is empty articles check-in to the material cabinet14. If step 370 determines that it is an empty article check-in to thematerial cabinet 14, then step 380 notifies the user/stock clerk toplace the article in a designated empty container area, then step 385informs the computer system 30 not to log the empty article removal ascheck-out. If step 370 determines that it is not an empty articlecheck-in to the material cabinet 14, then step 390 reports check-in tothe inventory database 35 of the computer system 30.

Now referring back to step 210, wherein step 210 determines whether itis a container check-in. If step 210 determines it is not a containercheck-in, then step 220 shown in FIG. 5B further checks to see if thecontainer is found in the material cabinet or not. If step 220determines that, the container is not found in the material cabinet,then step 225 reports an unlogged container to the inventory database 35and notifies the stock clerk followed by step 230. If step 220determines that the container is found in the material cabinet, thenstep 230 is directly accomplished. Step 230 checks to see if thecontainer is out of date or not. If step 230 determines that thecontainer is out of date, then step 235 alerts a mechanic, logs theevent in the inventory database, and notifies the stock clerk, thenprecedes to step 240. If step 230 determines that the container is notout of date, then step 240 is directly accomplished. Step 240 determineswhether the check-out article is to be scrapped. If step 240 determinesthat the check-out article is to be scrapped, then step 245 notifies theuser/stock clerk that the checked out article is non returnable, andthen goes to step 250 to report check-out to the system. If step 240determines that the check-out article is not to be scrapped, then step250 is directly accomplished. Step 250 reports the check-out event tothe inventory database 35 in the computer system 30.

FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart of the method for restocking 410 articles 18to the material cabinet 14 according to the present invention. Nowreferring to FIG. 6, in step 419 the restocking process of the materialcabinet is started followed by step 420 where a proximity badge 42 isswiped across the proximity reader 12 on the material cabinet 14. Step430 then determines if the proximity badge 42 is a card authorized to astock clerk such that the stock clerk's ID is on the proximity badge 42.If step 430 determines that the proximity badge 42 does not contain theclerk ID on the proximity badge 42, then at step 433 the method willaccomplish user/stock clerk RFID setup 130 as shown in FIG. 5A. If step430 determines that the stock clerk's ID is on the proximity badge 42,then step 440 records materials/articles that are loaded into thematerial cabinet 14 as restock. Step 450 depicts the end of therestocking process 400 according to the present invention.

Having described different embodiments of the present invention, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that many changes inconstruction and connections and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the scope of the present invention, as defined in the claims. Thedisclosures and the description herein are intended to be illustrativeand are not in any sense limiting of the invention, defined in scope bythe following claims.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to acertain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious thatequivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled inthe art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and theannexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functionsperformed by the above described components (assemblies, devices,circuits, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used todescribe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwiseindicated, to any component which performs the specified function of thedescribed component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even thoughnot structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performsthe function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of theinvention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention mayhave been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments,such feature may be combined with one or more other features of theother embodiments as may be desired.

It is therefore, contemplated that the claims will cover any suchmodifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of theinvention.

1. A method for inventorying a material cabinet for use in cooperationwith a plurality of articles stored in the material cabinet, each of theplurality of articles having a radio frequency identification tagattached thereto, the method comprising the steps of: receivinguser/stock clerk input through a magnetic reader installed on thematerial cabinet; generating a user/stock clerk setup record in aninventory database stored in a computer system associated with thematerial cabinet; receiving and transmitting information via a pluralityof antennas in communication with the computer system, wherein a radiofrequency identification signal communicates with the plurality ofarticles checked-in or checked-out from the material cabinet; creating atransaction record for the user/stock clerk setup record and the firstone of the plurality of articles checked-in or checked-out of thematerial cabinet, the record utilizing data from the inventory databasestored in the computer system that matches a first unique datainterpreted from the radio frequency identification signal; and alteringstatus parameters relating to the cabinet inventory database asassociated with a plurality of articles.
 2. The method according toclaim 1 wherein the magnetic reader communicates and associates with aproximity lock connected to the cabinet.
 3. The method according toclaim 1 further comprising the step of determining a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) setup for a user/stock clerk when the user/stockclerk swipes a proximity badge across or through the proximity reader.4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising the steps ofgenerating an invalid access report to the inventory database,transmitting an invalid access event to the computer system, anddirecting the user/stock clerk to centralized stock room for resolutionwhen the user/stock clerk's RFID setup is determined to be invalid. 5.The method according to claim 3 further comprising the step ofdetermining if the user/stock clerk is setup as BIN in the inventorydatabase.
 6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising thesteps of generating an invalid access report to the inventory database,transmitting an invalid access event to the computer system, anddirecting the user/stock clerk to a centralized stock room forresolution, when the used/stock clerk's setup as BIN is determinedinvalid.
 7. The method according to claim 5 further comprising the stepof, further determining the user/stock clerk's shop code on theuser/stock clerk's proximity badge when a user/stock clerk's setup asBIN is determined valid.
 8. The method according to claim 7 furthercomprising the steps of generating an invalid access report to theinventory database, transmitting an invalid access event to the computersystem, and directing the user/stock clerk to centralized stock room forresolution when the user/stock clerk's shop code is determined invalid.9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step ofinitiating check-in or check-out of material logged in the inventorydatabase when the user/stock clerk's shop code is determined valid. 10.The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step ofdetermining a task of article check-in.
 11. The method according toclaim 10 further comprising the step of further determining a task ofempty container check-in when the task of article check-in is determinedinvalid.
 12. The method according to claim 111 further comprising thestep of generating a report for check-in of an empty container to arefuse shelf to the inventory database when the task of empty containercheck-in is determined valid.
 13. The method according to claim 11further comprising the step of initiating a task of returned containercheck-in to the inventory database when the task of empty containercheck-in is determined invalid.
 14. The method according to claim 10further comprising the step of determining the existence of a particulararticle in the inventory database when the task of article check-in isdetermined invalid.
 15. The method according to claim 14 furthercomprising the step of generating a report of the particular article asan un-logged article and notifying a stock clerk when the particulararticle does not exist.
 16. The method according to claim 14 furthercomprising the step of determining that the particular article isout-of-date when the particular article exists in the inventory.
 17. Themethod according to claim 16 further comprising the steps of generatinga log event in the inventory database and notifying a stock clerk whenthe particular article is determined out-of-date.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 16 further comprising the step of determining theparticular article to be scrapped when the particular article isdetermined not out-of-date.
 19. The method according to claim 18 furthercomprising the step of notifying that the article being checked-out isnon-returnable when the particular article is determined to be scrapped.20. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step ofgenerating a check-out report to the inventory database when the articleis removed when the particular article is determined not to be scrapped.21. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the step ofgenerating a check-out report to the inventory database when the articleis removed.
 22. The method according to claim 13 further comprising thestep of determining if the article check-in is by the same user/stockclerk who checked the article out.
 23. The method according to claim 22further comprising the step of accepting the article and notifying astock clerk of the event when the article check-in is determined not bythe same user/stock clerk who checked it out.
 24. The method accordingto claim 22 further comprising the step of determining if the articlechecked-in is a one-time use article check-in when the articlechecked-in is determined to be by the same user/stock clerk who checkedit out.
 25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the stepof directing the user/stock clerk to place the article in a designatedsingle use area when the article checked-in is determined a one-timearticle check-in.
 26. The method according to claim 24 furthercomprising the step of further determining if the article check-in is anempty article check-in when the article checked-in is determined not tobe a one-time article checked-in.
 27. The method according to claim 26further comprising the step of directing the user/stock clerk to placethe article in a designated empty article area when the articlechecked-in is determined an empty article check-in.
 28. The methodaccording to claim 26 further comprising the step of generating a reportof a check-in event to the inventory database when the containerchecked-in is determined not to be an empty article check-in.
 29. Amaterial cabinet system for use in cooperation with a plurality ofarticles stored in a material cabinet, each of the plurality of articleshaving a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached thereto, thesystem comprising the step of a material cabinet having a plurality ofshelves installed; a magnetic lock system incorporated within thecabinet; at least one antenna for tracking the movement of the pluralityof pieces of articles, wherein the at least one antenna receives a radiofrequency identification (RFID) signal for each of the plurality ofarticles having the attached radio frequency identification (RFID) tagwhen moved from or onto the plurality of shelves in the materialcabinet; and a computer system in communication with the at least oneantenna and the magnetic lock system, the computer system having atleast one tracking software loaded into a memory of the computer system.30. The material cabinet system according to claim 29, wherein thetracking software in the computer system further comprises: a pluralityof instructions, the instructions for controlling a proximity readingmodule for reading and identifying a swiped proximity badge and formaintaining inventory communication and app; a radio frequencyidentification tracking module for interpreting a unique data from eachof the radio frequency identification signals received by the at leastone antenna and related to date and the proximity module wherein thesoftware further controls an inventory database module for storing dataon each of the plurality of pieces of articles, wherein each of theunique data corresponds to the data for one of the plurality of piecesof article and for controlling a reporting module for generating atleast one report regarding an event of check-in or check-out of theplurality of pieces of article.
 31. The material cabinet systemaccording to claim 29, wherein the material cabinet is a conventionalmaterial cabinet with at least a door installed to secure the materialcabinet.
 32. A material cabinet system according to claim 29, whereinthe magnetic lock system comprises: a proximity reader connecting to thecomputer system, and at least one proximity badge for providingfunctionality to the proximity reader to grant permission for openingthe door of the material cabinet.
 33. A material cabinet systemaccording to claim 29, further comprising a speaker installed inside oroutside of the material cabinet and connected to the computer system.